Study: Wyoming Prison is Fourth Highest in Health Costs

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — A report says Wyoming's prison system ranked fourth-highest in the country in health care spending in fiscal year 2015.

The report issued last week by Pew Charitable Trusts says the Wyoming Department of Corrections spent an average of $11,798 per inmate in fiscal year that ended June 30, 2015. That's 12 percent less than it spent in 2010, but more than every other state except California, Vermont and New Mexico.

The costs reported in the study include onsite and offsite care; outpatient medical products, such as prescription drugs; long-term care; and other costs.

State Corrections Department Deputy Director Steve Lindley says Wyoming's ranking can be attributed to its correctional facilities being located throughout a large rural state, which makes providing health care more expensive.